Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
Proverbs 21:21 (ESV)
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
We have many options to pursue. We can pursue success, knowledge, popularity, money, hobbies, family and more. Some of these are legitimate pursuits, but they are all illegitimate if we do not pursue righteousness and kindness first. When we pursue these traits we pursue God because righteousness is a relationship with God and all kindness ultimately comes from God.
When we put our priorities in proper order then we find life, more righteousness and honor from God. If our priorities are out of order then even though we may think we will find the good life in them, we will not. We can not find life and honor by making popularity with our family or knowledge of the bible more important than pursuing a righteous life or showing kindness even to offenders.
So be encouraged by all your acts of kindness and your commitment to a moral and godly life. You are traveling the path of true life, and everyone who is not on that path does not have life, though they may pretend that they do. One day God will honor you, which is why Peter tells us to “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13, ESV).
